Improvement in coffin-handles



? NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK STRONG, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN COFFlN-HANDLES.

gpecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,768, dated May 13, 1873; application filed April 11, m3.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARK STRONG, of Winsted, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coffin Handles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in casket-handles more com monly called coffin-handles, the object of the invention being to furnish a simple, economical, and strong mode of fastening together the parts forming the handle.

Figure 1 shows the hand-piece A, the swingin glever B, and the ornamental tip C detached. The lower end 01 of the swinging lever B forms a ring which receives the end of the'tubular hand-piece A. The inner end 0 of the ornamental tip C forms a plug, which enters the end of the tubular hand-piece A after it has been received into the ring d of the swinging lever B.

Fig. 2 represents the handle with the tubu- 'lar hand-piece, the swinging levers or arms,

and the ornamental tips fastened together, as will be described hereafter.

My invention consists in dispensing with appended fastenings of any sort, and fastenin g tirml y together the tubular handpiece A, the swinging lever B, and the ornamental tip C simply by means of the inner pressure of the plug end of the ornamental tip C and the outer pressure of the ring d of the swinging lever B upon the inner and outer end of the tubular hand-piece A, the ring being first forced upon the end of the tube, and then the plug end of the tip C being forced into the end of the tube A.

The inner surface of the ring of the lever might flare outward slightly, or the plug of the tip might taper slightly, so that the connection would be more secure. One or more shoulders might also be formed within the ring, and the plug adapted thereto for the same purpose. One or more grooves and ribs in the direction that the parts are forced together might be formed within the ring orupon or within the end of the tube or upon the plug, the ribs fitting into the grooves or not for the same purpose. These and any other forms or shapes to increase the pressure when the tube, lever, and tips are forced together, thereby giving greater security to the connection, would be evasions of my invention.

I am aware that the tubular hand-piece was secured by driving the ornamental tips into the slotted ends of the tube, as claimed in my patent of December 14,1869; but I have discovered that the slots are not necessary; but I am not aware that any tubularhandlehas ever before been secured simply by the innerpressure of the plug and the outer pressure of the ring of the lever, the ring being forced upon the end of the tube and the plug being forced into the end of the tube. Adding a fastening screw or pin or wedge of any sort would obviously be superfluous, and a mere evasion of my invention.

I claim as my invention Fastening together the tubular hand-piece A, the swinging lever B, and the tip C by means of the inner pressure of the plug end of the tip and the outer pressure of the ring (I of the swinging lever, the ring being first forced upon the end of the tubular hand-piece, and then the plug end of the tip being forced into the end of the tubular hand-piece, substantially as set forth.

Winsted, Connecticut, April 8, 1873.

CLARK STRONG.

Witnesses:

J. A. SMITH, H. L. ROBERTS. 

